Type-writer escapement.



J. T. FERGUSON. TYPE WRITER ESCAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY31, 1915.

` Lw. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- NL Attor'neys J. T. FERGUSON.

TYPEWRITER EscAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED .IULYSM I9l5.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Attorneys 1. T. FERGUSON. TYPE WRITER ESCAPEMENT.

APPLICATION HLED JuLYal Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

r 0 t n e V n 4Attorneys Witnesses Witnesses 1. T. FERGUSON.

TYPE WRITER ESCAPEMENT. APPLICATION r|LED`1uLY3l.1915.

Ll'f; PaferitedMr. 28,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor KfW/awk@ 0 Attorneys v J. T. FERGUSON.

TYPE WRITER EscAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31| 1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

all); i V

Inventor Attorneys NNN/.RN

Witnesses 7 Z wv/1M l as rarrnnr onirica.

JESSE T. FERGUSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI.

TYPE-WRITER ESCAPEMENT.

To all whom t may concern Be it knownthat I, JESSE T. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in' the county of Neshoba and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Type-Writer Escapement, of

' which thefollowing is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be assembled with typewriter' escapements of widely different sorts, for -the purpose' of increasing the-spaces'between letters or words at the will of an operator. 1

The invention aims to provide a novel means whereby. `whena letter lever is ldepressed, a certain spacing will be permitted, it vbeing possible Ato create a certain spacing by the manipulation of a spacing lever, the construction being such'that when the letter lever and the spacing lever are operated simultaneously, an increased spacing will occur.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of thattvpe to which the present invention appertains.

/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with- 1n the scope of whatis claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

yI n4 the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows in vertical section, one form of typewriter wherewith the device forming the subject matter of this application has been assembled; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the frame of the typewriter, certain portions of the present'invention-being disclosed; Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view showing one form of escapement4 mechanism which mav be embodied in the present invention; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view in which the cutting plane lies at right angles to the cuttingplane of Fig. 3, the parts delineated in Fig.v 3 appearing in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a fragmental horizontal section illustrating the stop mechanism whereby the tilting movement of the swing ing carrier is arrested and controlled; Fig. G is a fragmental perspective illustrating a portion of the means whereby the stop poi'- Specicaton of Letters Iatent.

Application filed .Tuly 31', 1915.

tion of the escapement is operated by the action of the spacing lever and the letter lever; Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to F ig.V 1 but showing a modiiied forni of the invention; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View showing a portion of the escapement mechanism employed in connection with that form of the invention shown in Fig. `7; Fig. 9 is a cross section of the structure shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a fragmental top plan showing the platform and the dogs of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a perspective view delineating the dogs; Fig. 12 is a perspective showing a modification of the structure however, that the construction and the operation of the present invention may, be clearly understood, there 1s shownin the drawings, a portion of a typewriter comprising a base l carrying posts 2 supporting a top 3.

The numeral 4 indicates a cairiagemounted to reciprocate on tracks 5 attached to the top 3 of the typewriter frame. By means of connections 6, the carriage 4 is united with a rack bar 7 meshing into a pinion 8 carried by a shaft 9 journaled for rotation in a' bearing 10 on the top 3. i

Secured to the shaft 9 is an escape wheel 11 operating through a slot 12 in the top 3. Brackets 14 depend from the top 3 and carry set screws 15 in which is mounted to swing. in the direction of the arrows A. and

.B ofvFig. 4, a carrier 16 which may be in act, respectively, with the forward and rear The carrier 16 is provided with a pivot' element 22 on which is mounted to swing in a direction parallel to the plane defined by the carrier, a rocker 23 of approximately triangular outline. A'retractile spring 24 is attached to the rocker 23 and to a suitable projection 25 on the 'forward face of the carrier 16. The function of the spring" 24 is to swing the rocker 23 on. its pivot 22 to the right as in Fig. 3. Pivoted as shown at 26 to the upper end of the rocker 23 is a main dog 27, adapted to coact with the escape wheel 11. The working end of the main dog 27 is maintained in an uplifted position and in the path of the teeth of the escape wheel 11, by means of a compression spring 28 interposed between the Working end of the main dog and the upper edge ot' the rocker 23. The rocker 23 carries a horizontally vproiecting stud 29 mounted to move `in an arcuate slot 30 formed in the carrier 16. l

The invention comprises a bell crank mounted on the swinging carrier 16 to move in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane delined by the carrier. The bell crank above alluded to includes an upright arm 31 interposed in the path of the stud 29 on the rocker 23, and a horizontally projecting arm 32 which extends 'rearwardly from the carrier 16. The bell crank 31-32 is fulcrumed as indicated at 33 on the carrier 16. @ne endv ot a leaf sprintf 34 is se- .cured to the rear face of the carrler 16, the

spring 34 extending across the upright arm 31 o the bell crank and constituting a means whereby the said arm is held yieldingly in the path' of the stud 29 on the rocker Disposed in alinement with the carrier 16 and tulcrumed intermediate its ends as shown at 36 upon one edge of the carrier is a secondary dog 35, the upper, working end of which is adapted to coact with the teeth of the escape wheel 11. i4 compression spring 37 is interposed between the lower end ot the secondary dog 35 and the carrier 16. llt may now be stated that, owing to the presence of the springs 23 and 37, the

escape wheel I11 may be rotated in the direction ot the arrow (l in Fig. 3, the dogs 27 and 35 tilting on their respective 15u1- crains.

.imanes 21. By this operation, the working end of the main dog 27 will bev moved'out of' engagement with the tooth 38, and. the work'- ingend of the secondary dog 35 will be brought into the path of the tooth 39, the escape wheel 11 remaining at rest. So soon as the main dog 27 is out of engagement with the tooth 38, the rocker 23 and the main dog 27 will swing to the right in Fig. 3, under the actionfot the spring 24, thestud 29 moving into abutmentwith the arm 31 of the bell crank. end ofthe main dog 27 is now in such a position that it may be engaged by the tooth 40 when the carrier 16 swings in the direction of the arrow A. 1f the crank arm 17 The working be released, and it the carrier 16 be permitted to swing in the direction of the 'arrow A under the action of the spring 13 until the carrier engages the stop 21?, the working end of the secondary dog 35 will be moved out of the path of the tooth 39 and the working end of the main dog 27 will be moved into the path of the tooth 40, the escape wheel 11 rotating in the direction of the arrow D, and the rocker 23 together with the main dog 27 moving to the lett iny Fig. 3 until the stud 29 on the vrocker 23 arrives at the lett end ot theslot 36 in the carrier 16.

From the foregoing it will be obviousthat if at an appropriate time and by a proper means, the bell crank 31--32 can be swung on its fulcrum 33 until the arm 31 no longer a corresponding increase in the movement of the iescape wheel 11 being permitted. An increase in the spacing thus may be brought about at the will of an operator. The means for swinging the carrier 16 and the means for operating the bell crank lever 31-32 will nowbe` set forth in detail.

y1`he numeral 41 designates a character printing lever united by means of a' link 63 with the printing mechanism` (not shown). rThe character printing lever 41 is fulcrumed as shown at 42 ion the base 1 and is swung upwardly by the action of a retractile spring 43 extended between the base and the lever. A spacing lever 44 is provided and comprises side arms 45, a thrust plate 46 'uniting the side arms, at their outer ends, and a connection 47 uniting the arms between their forward and rear ends, the connection 47 being prefer ably in the form of a rigid bar. The rear ends of the side arms 45 of the spacing lever 44 are fulcrumed as indicated at 48 upon the rear portion of the base 1 of the typewriter frame. Retractile springs 49 connect the side arms 45 of the spacing lever with the base portion` of the typewriter frame and constitute a means for elevating that end of the spacing lever which embodies the thrust plate 46; neath the character printing levers41 and adapted to be operated thereby is a universal bar 50 comprising side arms 51 fulcrumed as shown at 52 upon the base portion 1 of the typewriter frame, the universal bar being swung upwardly by means of` retractile springs 53 extended between the side arms of the universal bar and the base 'portion of the typewriter frame.

The universal bar 50 (Fig. 6) carries anv upright 54 provided with a slot 55 in which Extended beis mounted to move one end 56 of a connection 57 which may be in the form of-arod, the connection 57 being pivoted'as shown at 58 to the crank arm 17 of the carrier 16. Secured to the 'connection 57 intermediate its ends is an abutment v59. `A connection 60, which may be arod, is attached in any desired manner, as indicated at 61 to the cross bar 47 of the spacing lever 44, the connection 60 terminating in a rearward eXtension 62 embracing the connection 57 and located above the abutment 59, lthe construction being such that the connection 57 may move downwardly without actuating the connection 60, and the construction further, being such that when the connection 60 moves downwardly, the extension 62 thereof will coact with the abutment 59 and draw the connection 57 downwardly;

The universal bar 50 carries a post 64 provided with a slot 66. The cross bar 47 of the spacing lever 44 is equipped with a post 65 having a slot 67. Received loosely in the slots 66 and 67 is a rigid rdd 68, fulcrumed and poised intermediate its ends as shown at 69 on a flexible element 70, the rear, upper end ofV which is united with the arm 32 of the bell crank. Extended between the posts 2 at the rear of the machine is a support 71 carrying a transverse bar 72 on the ends of which are mounted pulleys 73 and 74. TheV 'flexible element 70 is trained across the top of the pulley 74 and passes beneath the pulley 73. v

The carrier 16 is swung in the direction of the arrows A and B in Fig. 4 as follows If the character printing lever 41 be pressed' the extension62y of the connection 60, and

consequently the spacinglever 44 is not depressed. If the spacing `lever 44 be depressed, the connection 60, engaging the vabutment 59 through the medium of the extension 62, will draw the connection 57 downwardly and swing lthe carrier 16 through the instrumentality of the crank arm 17.- .TheI character printing lever. 41 and the spacing lever 44, therefore, may be operated separately, to effect a single spac-` lng. During this operation, however, the

element 7 0 is drawn upon, and the arm 3l of the bell crank lever 31-32 vis withdrawn out of the path of the stud 29,-an increased space resulting, as will be obvious when the operation of the escapement mechanism is recalled and reviewed.

The manner in which thecharacter printing lever 41 and the spacing lever 44. cooperate with the flexible element 7 0 will now be described.

When the character printing lever41 carries the universal bar 50 and the post 64 downwardly, the left hand end of the rod 68 (referring to Fig. 6) is carried downwardly, the right hand end of the rod 68 moving upwardly in the slot 67 of the post 65 which of the rod 68 moving upwardly in the slot 66 of the post 64 onthe universal bar 50. Under such circumstances, the rod 68 will 'again tilt with the point 69 as a .fulcrurm without drawing downwardly on the flexible element 70. Whenl the character printing lever 41 and the spacing lever 44 are depressed simultaneously, then the rod 68, arriving at the upper ends of the slots 66 and 67, is drawn downwardly, the flexible element 70 being pulled upon, and the bell crank 31--32 being tilted, so that the arm 31 of the bell crank will be withdrawn out of the path of the stud 29 on the rocker 23.

A review of the operation of the escapement mechanism shown in Fig. 3, taken in connection with the foregoing description of the operation of the character printing lever 41 and the spacing lever will render it obvious that, at the will of an operator,

` 207, correspoxulingg' to the part an `increased space may be provided when the spacing lever ift and the character printing, lever Lll are depressed simultaneously, but not when either ot these elements is ma nipulated alone.

.ln the modilioation shown in Fig'. lf3, two movable dogs 270 and 350 appear, the spring 370 being in a neutral condition. ln this form of the invention. the printing mechanism is timed to act while the dop; 270 is in the position shown and is engaged with the escape wheel. This tnodilication is introduced to show that the invention is applicable to those eseapernents 'which emjloy two movable dogs, each operating to permit the carriage to move through a l'ial't'Y-letter space.

ln the modication shown in Fig. l2. the universal bar appears 200, the numeral 201. designating` the arms thereof. 'lhe connecting bar ot' the spacing; lever is shown at 22B. The numeral 20-l denotes a post on the aniversal bar 200, the post 20-l havingn a slot 205 receiving one end 206 of the connection 3'? of Fig. 8. The universal bar 200 is proviiiled with a depending;l eye 203. The numeral 20S) desigu nates lthe 'printing lever, the znnneral 2li) denoting' the connection, cori-espnndingin to theV connection (30, assembled with the bar 203 as shown at 2li. Upstanding'; from the bar 203 is a post 2.12 having; a slot 213. The numeral 214 denotes a rod correspoiuling to the rod (i8, the rod 2li being: tnlcrunied at 2l5 on.

the .flexible element 216. @ne end ot' the rod 214e is loosely received in 'the slot 213 oit the post 212, the other end ot the rod 2li being downbent as shown `at 2li' and being extended loosely thro agli the eve 208. thevlower extremity otl the 'portion 2li of the rod be ing); curved as shown at 218 to extend beneath the universal bar 200.

T he structure shown in Fig. 12 operates as does the structure shown in Fig'. 6, it beinglr possible to move either the universal bar 20() or `the connecting' bar 203 vdownwardly, witl'iout actuating the flexible element 216. TWhen` however. the parts 203 and 200 are moved downwardly simultaneously, the 'flexible element 216 will be pulled downwardly and, lil-te the flexible element 'T0 aetuate the bell crank lever 31--32 ln Figs. '7, 8, 9, 10 and ll a modified torni ot' the invention is shown. ln these figures, and particularly in Fig. 7, parts previously deseril'ed are designated b v reference characters hereinbet'ore used, with the suffix of Projecting troni the carriage Ll are arms 21S) extending' through lthe slots l2 in the top 3 ot' `the typewriter traine. The arms 219 carry a rack bar 220. Supported on brackets 221 depending 'troni the top 3 ot' the typewriter 'traine is a platform livoted at 223 to the platform 222 is a dog 224; having an opstanding' .vorking lip 225 adapted to ez'perate with the rack bar 220.

aromas The dog 224 is swung in one direction to cooperate with a stop 228 on the platform 222 by means of a spring` 226, representing the spring 18, and attached to a projection 22? on the top 3 of 'the typewriter frame. The movement of the dog' 224 on its pivot 223 in an opposite direction is limited by a stop 229 on the platform Mounted to reciprocate on the dog 221i is a dog 230 passing slidably through an openine 231 formed 'in the upstandingr lip 225 ot the dog 224, The dog' 230 embodies a laterally oliset, opstanding' lip 232 adapted to coacjt with the rack bar .220. ln the dog 230, elongated slots 238 are formed, receiving pins 23e which upstand from the dog 22-l. The dog 230 embodies an opstanding flange 285, and upon the dog 221i there is placed a bracket 236, a compression spring; 237 being interposed between the flange 235 and the bracket 236. Projecting laterally trom the dog 230 is an arm 238 'lying in lthe path of the reciprocatory plunger 240 mounted in a easing 239 depending `trom the `platform 222. For a purpose to be described hereinafter, the upper end ot the plunger 240 is beveled at one side, as shown at 2li, the lower end of the plunger 240 being loosely pivoted as shown at 242 to a lever 243 'tulcrumed on a hanger 24e depending trom lplatform 222 of the typewriter trame. A spring-2fl5 lying1 within the easing 239 serves to elevate the plunger 2l() and to dispose the upper end tl erect inthe path of the arm 238 of the dog 230. l

The operation of the structure shown in Figs. 8, 9., 10 and l1 resembles closely the operation ot 'the structures shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and, with a lorieit description will be comprehenderl readily. Let it be supposed that the lip 232 ot' the doe' 230 is in engagement with one of the teeth of the rarlt bar 220, the arm 238 being in engagement with the plunger 240, as shown in Fig. 10, and the spring 23T being' under compression. `Under such circumstances, movement of the rack bar 220 to the right will be prevented. It the dog 224 is swung in the direction ot 4the arrow B in Fig. 10, the lip 232 of the dog; 230 will move out of engagement with the rack bar 220. and the lip 225 of the dog 230 will move into engagement with the rack bar, the rack bar remaining' at rest. W hen the lip 232 ot the dog 230 is moved 'to one side of the rack bar 220, the vdog 230 will be moved to the lett, under the action ot the spring' 237 until the pins 234 arrive at the right hand ends ot the slots 23B. Then, it' the dog 23-l be swung in the direction of the arrow on the 'pivot 223, the lip 232 of the dog 230 will turn into engagenient with the rack bar 220. The rack bar 220 now will move to the right, carrying,y with it the doe 423O,until 'the arm 238 again engages 'with the plunger 240. Thus, a cer lili) tain specified amountof spacing may be brought about. When it is desired to double the amount of spacing, the-plunger 240 is drawn downwardly, and vwhen the dog 230 moves to the right, it will be stopped, not by an engagement between the arm 238 and the plunger 240, but by an engagement between the pins 234 and the ends `of the slots 238. Thus, a double spacing will be brought about. .Now when the dog 230 has been moved to its extreme right hand position in the manner hereinbefore described, the

plunger 240 will be disposed to the left of arm-238, and some means must be provided whereby the arm 238` may move to the left of the plunger 240, as the dog 230 moves to the left. In this connection it is to be noted that the plunger 240 is beveled on its upper end as shown at 241, and is yieldably upheld by the spring 245, the construction therefore being such that as the arm 238 moves to the left along with the dog 230, the arm will depress the plunger and pass thereover.

The numeral 247 denotes a shaft extended between the brackets 221, the shaft carrying a pulley 248. Across the pulley 248 passes a iexiblc element 249 connected With the upper end of the member 57a, as shown in Fig. 1, the flexible element 249 constituting a means for swinging the dog 224 in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 10. The flexible element 249 may be intermediately `supported on a pulley 250 carried by a hanger 251 depending from the top 3aof the typewriter frame.

The flexible element 70a 'is connected, as shown in Fig. 8, to the lever 243, and constitutes a means for swinging the `lever. downwardly on its fulcrum, and for depressing the plunger 240, out of contact with the arm 238 on the dog 230.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is :-l

1. In a typewriter, a carriage; an escapement mechanism coacting with the carriage and including a movable, carriage controlling dog; a movable stop lying in the path of the dog; a printing lever;.`a spacing 1ever; a universal bar lying in the path of ther printing lever and actuated thereby;

means' for operatively connecting the universal bar and the spacing lever with the top, whereby the stop may be moved out of the path of the dog when the printing lever and the spacing lever are operated simultaneously; a primary connection operatively united with the escapement; a secondary connection mounted to slide on the primary connection; an abutment on the primary connection and coacting` with the secondary connection; means for uniting the secondary connection with the spacing lever; and a lost motion union between the primary connection and the universal bar.

2. In a typewriter, a carriage; an escapement mechanism coact'ing with the carriage and including a movable, carriage controlling dog; a movable `stop lying in the path of the dog; a printing lever; a spacing lever; a universal bar operated by the printing lever; means for operatively connecting the universal bar and the spacing lever with the escapement mechanism whereby the escapement mechanism will be actuated when the printing lever and the spacing lever are moved one at a time; an actuating element connected with thev stop; a tiltable member fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the actuating element; and means for operatively connecting the tiltable member with the universal bar and with the spacing member Wherebythe tiltable member will swing upon its fulcrum when the printing lever and the spacing lever are separated independently, andwhereby the tiltable memberwill move bodily and operate the actuating element and the stop when the printing lever and the spacing lever are operated simultaneously. t

3. In a typewriter, a carriage; an escapement mechanism coacting with the carriage and including a movable, carriage controlling dog; a movable stop lying in the path of the dog; a printing lever; a spacing lever; a universal bar operated by the printing lever, the universal bar and the spacing lever including elements provided with slots; a rod having its ends loosely mounted in the slots; and an actuating element on which the rod is fulcrumed, the actuating element being operatively connected with the stop. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the Vpresence of two witnesses.

JESSE T. FERGUSON. Witnesses:

J. H. HESTER, R. H. MALPUS. 

